In Donald Trump's ongoing New York City trial, Judge Juan Merchan again held Trump in contempt of court and fined him another $1,000 for violating a gag order, sternly warning the former president of the possibility of jail for future violations, reports the Associated Press. Merchan said Trump’s statements “threaten to interfere with the fair administration of justice and constitute a direct attack on the rule of law. I cannot allow that to continue.” The judge added, “As much as I don’t want to impose a jail sanction, I want you to understand that I will have to if necessary and appropriate.” Prosecutors accused Trump of four violations, but the judge agreed on only one.
The judge had previously fined Trump $9,000 for nine earlier violations in posts on Truth Social and his website. Merchan found Trump had violated the gag order for comments he gave to a program called “Just the News No Noise” on April 22, which is broadcast on Real America’s Voice. On the program, Trump criticized the speed at which the jury was picked and claimed it was stacked with Democrats. “The jury was picked so fast. 95 percent Democrats. The area’s mostly all Democrat,” he said. Merchan said the comments “not only called into question the integrity, and therefore the legitimacy of these proceedings, but again raised the specter of fear for the safety of the jurors and of their loved ones.” He said Trump "is hereby put on notice that if appropriate and warranted, future violations of its lawful orders will be punishable by incarceration."